The Fresh Beat Band is back at the Great Allentown Fair and one of the group's musicians couldn't be happier.

"Allentown is always one of our largest audiences," says Tommy Hobson, who portrays Shout, The Fresh Beat Band keyboard player, in a phone interview.

The Fresh Beat Band, which had its origin on a popular Nickelodeon television show, performs a concert, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 31, Fairgrounds Grandstand, The Great Allentown Fair, Allentown Fairgrounds, 17th and Liberty streets, Allentown.

"It's amazing. It's so much fun. The four of us really do bring it all to the stage for you," Hobson says.

Hobson, a native of Upland, Calif., began his career as a child actor, appearing in commercials and the hit 1990's ABC sitcom "Step by Step."

"I earned enough money to make a living but not too much that I wasn't still a kid," says Hobson.

Hobson, a graduate of the Yale University School of Drama, describes the character of Shout as a lot like himself:

"Shout always wants to have a good time, but he also reminds the other kids to get back to business. When other characters have silly pratfalls, Shout is there to pick them up."

"The Fresh Beat Band show is about four best friends who make music not to make money, but to have fun," says Hobson. "They just like to make people happy."

The band performs a one-hour and 15-minute concert of its hits. "It's not a stage show," says Hobson. "It's a full-fledged concert."

Hobson enjoys seeing the parents and children in the audience dance to the music. "There is nothing more fun than that moment when you see the parents rock out alongside their kids," he says.

"Honestly, my favorite part is getting to see all of our fans and getting to see how much people loved the show. We get to thank them.

"All four of us were little kids once who dreamed of being onstage doing just what we do. We remember the magic of being a kid."

Despite his love for his time with The Fresh Beat Band, Hobson looks forward to more adult roles in the future.

"Everyone has to grow up," he says. "In five years, I would love to be on prime time television or be doing Broadway."

Information, tickets: allentownfairpa.org, 1-800-745-3000